ATTRIBUTED QUOTATIONS: BC TO THE PRESENT

Money is life to us wretched mortals.

Little to little added, if oft done, in small time makes a good possession.

Hesiod (C. 700 BC), Greek poet

Cursed be he above all others
Who's enslaved by love of money.
Money takes the place of brothers,
Money takes the place of parents,
Money brings us war and slaughter.

Anacreon (C. 582–485 BC), Greek poet

Do not work to make money for money's sake.

Buddha (C. 563–483 BC), Indian spiritual leader

Money can turn a lowly worm into a mighty dragon.

Money in the hands of a bachelor is as good as gone.

He who hasn't a penny sees bargains everywhere.

The gold does not belong to the miser, but the miser to the gold.

The injury of prodigality leads to this, that he that will not economize will have to agonize.

Confucius (551–479 BC), Chinese philosopher and teacher

For money, you would sell your soul.

You will see more ruined than saved by money ill gotten.

Profit is sweet even if it comes from deception.

Sophocles (C. 496–406 BC), Greek playwright

Money is the wise man's religion.

Euripides (C. 484–406 BC), Greek playwright

Wealth is a lot of things a man can do without.

Socrates (C. 470–399 BC), Greek philosopher

Wealth is the parent of luxury and indolence, and poverty of meanness and viciousness, and both of discontent.

Plato (C. 427–347 BC), Greek philosopher

Money was intended to be used in exchange, but not to increase at interest.

Aristotle (384–322 BC), Greek philosopher

No one gets rich quickly if he is honest.

Riches cover a multitude of woes.

Let him who weds wed character, not money.

Menander (C. 342–292 BC), Greek playwright

If thou wilt make a man happy, add not to his riches but take away from his desires.

Epicurus (341–270 BC), Greek philosopher

After spending some money in his sleep, Hermon the miser was so hopping mad he hanged himself.

Lucilius (C. 160–103 BC), Roman satirist

Above all is he admired who is not influenced by money.

There is no sanctuary so holy that money cannot profane it, no fortress so strong that money cannot take it by storm.

Cicero (106–43 BC), Roman statesman, orator and writer

When reason rules, money is a blessing.

Everything is worth what its purchaser will pay for it.

Money does not sate Avarice, but stimulates it.

Fortune is like glass—the brighter the glitter, the more easily broken.

Publilius Syrus (C. 100 BC), Latin poet and playwright

Make money: make it honestly if possible; if not, make it by any means.

A heart well-prepared for adversity in bad times hopes, and in good times fears for a change in fortune.

Though you strut proud of your money, yet fortune has not changed your birth.

Horace (65–8 BC), Roman poet and satirist

We feel public misfortunes just so far as they affect our private circumstances, and nothing of this nature appeals more directly to us than the loss of money.

Livy (59 BC–AD 17), Roman historian

When every man worships gold, all other reverence is done away.

Propertius (C. 50–after 16 BC), Roman poet

Money is now the prize. Wealth in its train brings honors, and brings friendships; he who's poor is ever cast aside.

Gold will buy the highest honors; and gold will purchase love.

Ovid (43 BC–AD 18), Roman poet

Not he who has little, but he who wishes more, is poor.

A good mind possesses a kingdom; a great fortune is a great slavery.

Money does all things for reward. Some are pious and honest as long as they thrive upon it, but if the devil himself gives better wages, they soon change their party.

Money is a greater torment in the possession, than it is in the pursuit; the fear of losing it is a great trouble, the loss of it a greater, and it is made a greater yet by opinion.

Seneca (4 BC–AD 65), Roman philosopher and playwright

Fidelity bought with money is overcome by money.

The acquisition of riches has been to many not an end to their miseries, but a change in them: The fault is not in the riches, but the disposition.

What madness it is for a man to starve himself to enrich his heir, and so turn a friend into an enemy! For his joy at your death will be proportioned to what you leave him.

Economy is too late when you are at the bottom of your purse.

Seneca (4 BC–AD 65)

What power has law where only money rules?

Petronius Arbiter (?–C. AD 65), Roman satirist

It is a hard thing not to surrender morals for riches.

If you want him to mourn, you had best leave him nothing.

Martial (C. AD 40–104), Roman poet

When the strong box contains no more, both friends and flatterers shun the door.

Nothing is cheap which is superfluous, for what one does not need, is dear at a penny.

Plutarch (C. AD 46–120), Greek biographer and philosopher

Lampis the shipowner, on being asked how he acquired his great wealth, replied: "My great wealth was acquired with no difficulty, but my small wealth, my first gains, with much labor."

Epictetus (C. AD 55–135), Greek philosopher

The love of money grows with growing wealth.

Money lost is bewailed with unfeigned tears.

Juvenal (C. AD 55–130), Roman poet

Nothing that is God's is obtainable by money.

Tertullian (C. AD 160–230), Roman theologian

If you would get rid of a disagreeable person, lend him money.

Francesco Accursius (1182–1260), Italian jurist and writer

Love lasteth long as the money endureth.

William Caxton (C. 1422–1491), English writer, printer and diplomat

A man who wishes to be rich in a day will be hanged in a year.

He who possesses most must be most afraid of loss.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), Italian painter, architect and scientist

A little wanton money ... burned out the bottom of his purse.

Sir Thomas More (1478–1535), English writer, statesman and theologian

The god of this world is riches, pleasure, and pride, wherewith it abuses all the creatures and gifts of God.

Martin Luther (1483–1546), German theologian and teacher

He left a paper sealed up, wherein were found three articles as his last will, "I owe much, I have nothing, I give the rest to the poor."

François Rabelais (C. 1494–1553), French writer and humanist

Bad money drives out good. [Gresham's law]

Sir Thomas Gresham (1519–1579), English philosopher and banker

With money you would not know yourself; without money no one would know you.

The money paid, the work delayed.

Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616), Spanish novelist, poet and playwright

Money is like muck, not good except it be spread.

No man's fortune can be an end worthy of his being.

If money be not...